[f. LIFT v. + -ING2.] That lifts, in senses of the vb., spec. in lifting-bridge, a bridge of which either a part or the whole may be drawn up at one end when needful; lifting-gate = LIFT sb.2 15; lifting-pump, any pump other than a force-pump; lifting-sail, a sail whose action tends to lift the bows out of the water; lifting-set, ‘the series of pumps by which water is raised from the bottom of a mine by successive lifts’ (Knight, Dict. Mech., 1875).
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 443. After harde dayez wern out an hundreth & fyfte, As þat lyftande lome [the ark] luged aboute.
1686. J. Dunton, Lett. fr. New-Eng. (1867), 8. Even the Parson himselfe … gave me a lifting hand.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), IX. 17/2. Of lifting-pumps there are several sorts.
1839. R. S. Robinson, Naut. Steam Eng., 65. On the top of the air bucket fits the lifting valve.
1851. Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 1148. Swing, lifting, or rolling bridges are … in such cases indispensable.
1875. Carpentry & Join., 135. These double-legged tables are very generally made with a rack to allow of their rising by the application of a lifting force.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 205. The jib and flying-jib are … lifting sails.
1894. Daily News, 19 June, 6/5. The supremely interesting feature of this really great work are the lifting bascules.
1895–6. Cal. Univ. Nebraska, 215. By its use the extensor or lifting muscles are developed.
1898. Daily News, 16 Nov., 7/1. The mechanism of the lifting roadway is so perfect in its action.
